Look and Listen

Biography

Shannon Taylor Hodnett is an Oklahoma native now living halfway between Houston and the beautiful beaches of Galveston, Texas with her husband, son, three dogs, and a cat. After her freshman year at the University of Oklahoma, Shannon abandoned college life for the wonderful world of waitressing. Inspired by advice from family—and an armed forces episode of Family Feud—she joined the Navy where she got kicked out after two weeks of boot camp and diagnosed with a rare, incurable kidney disorder. Over the next two decades, Shannon met and married a wonderful man named Jeff…gave birth to their amazing son, Jack…and received a shiny new kidney from her best friend, Robin. With a second chance at life, and an appreciation for everything in it, she soon rediscovered a passion for writing and successfully completed her first novel. When not writing, Shannon can be found singing loudly to her dogs, watching Criminal Minds, or taking pictures of the sky.

Inspiration

I always loved writing from the moment I wrote my first poem about a stinkbug at age four. I became a writer for my high school newspaper and later wrote three books for young children which were promptly rejected by publishers. After that I put my writing aspirations aside and focused on raising my son and dealing with my illness. A decade later my health started declining rapidly. I was going to die unless I got a new kidney. My best friend, Robin, had herself tested and turned out to be a match. She not only gave me a new kidney, but another chance at life. I was inspired to return to my dream of becoming a writer and complete the novel I never thought I would be able to write.